Originally, eighteen ProTeams were scheduled to be invited to the race, with two other squads – Caja Rural–Seguros RGA and Cofidis – given wildcard places, and as such, would have formed the event's 20-team peloton.

[11] Saxo–Tinkoff had picked up the front of the peloton once again, as they continued to reduce the advantage that Txurruka held, and was caught with around 18 km (11.2 mi) remaining, prior to the day's final climb.

[12] The Movistar Team took up the pace on the climb itself,[11] looking to protect their leader Nairo Quintana, attempting to shell riders out of the back of the peloton.

Towards the summit of the climb, several riders crashed – including Lotto–Belisol's Jurgen Van den Broeck,[13] and Omega Pharma–Quick-Step duo Tony Martin and Dries Devenyns; the latter abandoned with a fractured radial bone in his left arm[14] – and as a result, the peloton split into several groups.

[15] After a lead-out from teammate Pieter Weening,[11] Simon Gerrans sprinted to his third stage victory of the year ahead of a fast-finishing Peter Velits of Omega Pharma–Quick-Step.

Vitoria-Gasteiz was hosting a stage finish of the Tour of the Basque Country for the second year in succession; in 2012,[18] Daryl Impey won the second stage after attacking inside the final kilometre for the GreenEDGE team, and managed to hold off a fast-finishing main field, led home by teammate Allan Davis.

Txurruka, in the red and white polka-dot jersey as mountains classification leader, attacked prior to the day's first categorised climb, the Alto de Elgeta, commencing over 130 km (80.8 mi) at the front of the race, solo.

[18] On the Alto de San Martin, Jens Voigt (RadioShack–Leopard) and Lampre–Merida's Adriano Malori attacked from the peloton, and after around 5 km (3.1 mi) of chasing, caught up to Txurruka.

[23] The three riders were eventually caught one-by-one on the run-in to Vitoria-Gasteiz, setting up the final sprint,[24] and with a lead-out from race leader Simon Gerrans and teammate Michael Matthews,[21] Impey repeated his 2012 victory ahead of Astana's Francesco Gavazzi; Gavazzi's second top-four finish allowed him to take the race lead from Gerrans.

[29] At the foot of the climb, Saxo–Tinkoff made their way to the front of the peloton with Nicolas Roche and Chris Anker Sørensen leading their train, protecting their leader Alberto Contador.

Colombian riders were prominent in the group; after Sergio Henao (Team Sky) had attacked, been joined by Herrada's teammate Nairo Quintana and had been brought back, Ag2r–La Mondiale's Carlos Betancur went on the attack with 3 km (1.9 mi) remaining and was joined by Team Katusha rider Giampaolo Caruso.

Although not in top form, Euskaltel–Euskadi's Samuel Sánchez was seen as the stage favourite, having won the previous three finishes at Eibar-Arrate in the Tour of the Basque Country.

[36][37] Much like the previous day, the race remained together for most of the opening hour, after several mini-breaks were negated before they could establish a reputable gap over the main field.

[38] As the leaders made their way up the climb, Cannondale's Daniele Ratto fell into difficulty remaining with Velits and the other member of the breakaway, Ag2r–La Mondiale's Matteo Montaguti.

[39] The Movistar Team's José Herrada was first to move from the peloton, with Pieter Weening (Orica–GreenEDGE) and Vorganov's teammate Simon Špilak joining him, and the trio caught the two leaders with around 4 km (2.5 mi) remaining.

[43] A three-rider move got away in the early stages, consisting of Blanco Pro Cycling's Lars Petter Nordhaug, Jérôme Pineau of Omega Pharma–Quick-Step and Argos–Shimano rider Thierry Hupond, but they were brought back before the first climb, the Alto de Azkarate.

The field remained together until the second climb where Egor Silin of Astana, and the Movistar Team's José Herrada got clear on the first-category Alto de Urraki.

Fraile was eventually caught towards the top of the Alto de Olaberria; defending race winner Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel–Euskadi) twice counter-attacked on the descent from the climb,[45] but both moves were covered off by Team Sky.

[43] The final stage of the Tour of the Basque Country ended like it had done so for the past decade with a technical time trial in and around the town of Beasain.

[48] Thus, Michael Albasini of Orica–GreenEDGE, who, in 73rd place, trailed overall leader Sergio Henao of Team Sky by fifty-five minutes and twenty-nine seconds, was the first rider to set off on the final stage.

[49] Contador was much slower than his rival, taking the course in a steady manner, and crossed the finish line nineteen seconds in arrears of Špilak.

The rain was not making for easy riding; at the intermediate time-check, Quintana was coping best with the conditions, pulling ten seconds on Porte and seventeen on Henao.